Role of endoscopy in acute gastrointestinal bleeding in real clinical practice: An evidence-based review

Core Tip

Core tip: When a patient with signs of bleeding, such as hematemesis, melena, and hematochezia, presents to the emergency room, an endoscopic approach is considered together with initial resuscitation. Timely endoscopy and appropriate bowel preparation are very important in patients with acute gastrointestinal bleeding. In addition, mechanical bleeding control is an imperative part of therapeutic endoscopy. After bleeding control, the risk classification of rebleeding is important because old age, concomitant diseases, and use of drugs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, antiplatelet, and anticoagulant drugs) are increasing. Therefore, endoscopy has a very important role in the diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis of gastrointestinal bleeding.